Naomi

During our service in Madi West Nile, we have met so many people, heard their stories and have seen how their lives were transformed. For us, living in Northern Uganda, we hear and see with our own ears and eyes, the impact on people’s lives of financial and prayer support given by others. We don’t always see happy endings, but your prayer and gifts in whatever way mean a lot for your brothers and sisters here – offering new hope and a future.

Naomi (30) is one of the new mums at LifeStitches, where she makes beautiful coloured kitchen and table ware from gorgeous African wax fabrics. Sitting outside the workshop on a bench, she tells her story.

“I was tested HIV positive when I went for my ante natal care. There were many challenges. But I started with drug treatment that was given for free at Arua Hospital, to at least improve my health. My husband knew he was HIV positive too, but did not want the community to know. He said that he would die sometime anyway. He got very sick but just stayed at home till he was too ill and admitted at the rural hospital. I cared for him and the people in the hospital convinced him to start with retroviral drugs. He recovered and we went home to the village.

“I learned about LifeStitches, a project for HIV positive mothers, and after I had permission from my husband, I took the chance to join the group. It has helped me a lot. Lois, the teacher, taught me tailoring with a pedal machine. I now know how to sew in such a way that LifeStitches can sell the products. The income I receive is used to sustain our family. Our children are 7 and 3 years old, both HIV negative. I am happy to be able to care for our family.
I wish LifeStitches could go for outreach in all villages. Many women and families suffer in the countryside, just hiding inside their homes. I found new hope with new tailoring and business skills, I wish that more sisters could be helped.”

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